UN official praises UAE’s preparedness to host World Data Forum 2018

Stefan Schweinfest, Director of the United Nations Statistics Division, UNSD, at the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, DESA, lauded the readiness of the UAE and its ability to host major international events.

UNSD and DESA are responsible for the agenda of the World Data Forum, which the UAE will be hosting 2018.

On the sidelines of his UAE visit, Schweinfest said in a statement that the country impressed him with regard to its preparedness and ability to host major international events. "We are confident of the success of the forum, which will serve as an index to measure the success of future sessions of the World Data Forum," he said.

The UN official noted that the UNSD and the UAE Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority would form a strong and unique team to make it an exceptional and better forum in 2018.

He also expressed his satisfaction at visiting the UAE for the first time while praising the office of the UAE Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority, designed to preserve the traditional and authentic character of the country. "This is what I also felt in Dubai; it is an innovative city inhabited by various nationalities and yet it maintains its authentic character," Schweinfest said.

"During my visits to statistical centres worldwide, I have not seen an office similar to that of the UAE Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority. This office represents a revolution in designing the headquarters of government institutions," he added.

According to Schweinfest, the national institutions in the UAE are capable of providing an innovative work environment that stimulates dynamism and productivity, especially in data and knowledge space.

Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State for International Co-operation and Chairperson of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority, also expressed her confidence in the ability of the authority and the partner team, including representatives from the federal and local authorities and the private sector, to organise the most important global forum on data as per the highest international norms and standards.

The UAE had won the bid to host the second session of the World Data Forum during the first forum, which was held this month in Cape Town, South Africa. The UAE competed with Switzerland, Finland, Mexico and other countries for the bid to host the second session.

The first UN World Data Forum was hosted by Statistics South Africa from 15th to 18th January, with support from the Statistics Division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, under the guidance of the United Nations Statistical Commission and the High-level Group for Partnership, Co-ordination and Capacity-Building for Statistics for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.